Vladimir Lange

Neurosurgeon Mauricio de Barcelos is propelled into the spotlight when his revolutionary brain implant saves the life of the President's daughter. Designed to treat depression, the implant is a cost-effective, computer-programmable device that could spell overnight relief for millions. Mauricio's popularity soars. Patients, including military pilots sidelined on psychological grounds, clamor for the new treatment. But soon patients begin exhibiting bizarre behaviors, and Mauricio discovers that someone has breached the firewall and hijacked access to the implant program. In his efforts to regain control, Mauricio engages in a lethal game with a man known only as “Al The Chessman”. Hired by Big Pharma to protect their profits, The Chessman is an evil mercenary with a dark and deviant agenda of his own. In the final battle, betrayed by the woman he loves, Mauricio must choose between saving the President of the United States, or hundreds of his own patients. His invention, and his own life, are beyond saving. Vladimir Lange's second medical thriller combines science-based technology, multi-layered characters and cinematic prose to deal with a uniquely contemporary topic: Can we keep our implanted medical devices safe from hackers?